Psychologist OK’d for fake money case suspect

The federal court has granted the request of one of three persons who were allegedly responsible for passing counterfeit bills to retain the services of a psychologist to examine his ability to stand trial.

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Alex R. Munson said that Lucas Taitano Manglona may retain the services of psychologist Dr. Ron Meister to conduct a competency examination.

Munson said Meister’s examination on Manglona may be videotaped and that the defendant may retain the services of a Chamorro language translator/interpreter for assistance during the examination.

The judge directed the U.S. Probation Office to obtain copies of Manglona’s medical and psychiatric records, including any still being held by Dr. Laura Post.

Munson ordered Manglona’s counsel, Robert T. Torres, to coordinate with the psychiatrist, the Commonwealth Health Center, the Department of Corrections, and the U.S. Marshal to effect the transfer of Manglona to the psychiatric facilities at CHC, for a period not to exceed 45 days.

The 45-day period may be extended only by a court order, Munson said.

In a motion for competency examination, Torres said the Office of Probation’s pretrial services report indicates that Manglona has been receiving prescriptions for psychotropic drugs, including Halodol and Halopirodol.

Torres said the substance of the report strongly suggests that his client suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and, at the very least, warrants a competency determination by a forensic psychiatrist.

The lawyer said he previously represented Manglona in a criminal case before the Superior Court several years ago.

At that time, he said, Manglona was examined by forensic psychiatrist Dr. Post and was found to be incompetent to stand trial, much less assist his attorney.

Torres said his interactions with Manglona in the federal court case and consultations with the defedant’s mother suggest that Manglona’s competency may still be at issue.

Citing a previous federal court ruling, Torres said a person may not be tried for an offense if, at any time during the proceedings, the defendant lacks capacity to consult with his attorney “with a reasonable degree of rational understanding” as well as be able to understand the facts and nature of his case.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service, with the assistance of local police, arrested Manglona, his brother Nestor Camacho Taitano, and Kisha Lyn Masga King for counterfeiting. The three pleaded not guilty.